Hi,

I just took delivery of a 1957 Oldsmobile 98 with air conditioning and power brakes. It safely made it from Texas to Sydney (Australia).

I have a question - how do you gain access to top up/bleed the brakes? I have a service manual that tells me how to remove the power booster, etc, but I can't see how, when it's in the car, you get access to it to check the level, etc. The air conditioner evaporator box is sitting right above it, which seemingly blocks all access.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions. As is normal with a 'new' car, just finding my way round it.

John

 

Hello John;
Mine doesn't have AC, but there is a dip stick between the steering column and the wheel well that you top the fluid up through.

Mark

 

So yes, can see the dip stick top, but can't reach it from the engine bay due to the large air conditioner evaporator sitting above it.

 

Do you have a picture of this? As I mentioned mine doesn't have AC so I cant really comment any further. I can get to mine from underneath but its not very easy.

 

I do not have AC in my 57 either. Its tight even without the AC. You may have to unbolt the evaporator and move it as much as the cooling lines will allow to access the master cylinder.

 

Pictures of engine bay below. They didn't make access to the master cylinder easy!

http://www.stkarchive.info/olds1.jpg

http://www.stkarchive.info/olds2.jpg

http://www.stkarchive.info/olds3.jpg

 

[QUOTE=john116;628411]Pictures of engine bay below. They didn't make access to the master cylinder easy!

I see what you mean!! Very crowded under there, looks like todays cars....almost. I'm thinking you will have to get at it from underneath.

Beautiful clean engine bay. How long have you had it?

Mark

 

Yikes, that is tight might try a light underneath then use a mirror with a handle to see what your working on. Then standing on a stool maybe you can reach down to get to it. Best if luck with that beast

 

That is almost as bad as a tri-five Chevy with factory air. You can't even see the valve cover on the right side of the engine. I think often times little thought was given to maintenance. Your engine bay is beautiful. A J-2 with factory air. WOW. This one had a big price tag for the day.

 

I've had it 3 days. I picked it up from the warehouse in Sydney on Friday afternoon.

It took about 10 weeks total time to get from Texas (Dallas) to Sydney. Only about 3 weeks of that was actual 'on the ship' time from Longbeach to Sydney.

 

Can you post a few other pictures of her. If the rest is as nice as the engine it looks like a great find.

Mark

 

I haven't taken any pictures yet. The ones in the location below were the dealer ones taken before it shipped to Sydney.

The car is not in perfect condition, but it's not too bad for it's 56 years.

http://www.stkarchive.info/1957_Oldsmobile

 

Very nice, looks almost identical interior to mine. Your dash is in better shape. Have a good time with that! Mines parked for the winter now.

Mark

 

Doesn't ever snow in Sydney, so can use it all year round! :-)

 

YAYAYA.....at least we have an excuse to work on them....I hate working on it when I can be driving it

Mark

 

Just wondering could a person using a hole saw open up say a 3 inch hole under the floorboard carpet and service the master cylinder from that area...Just a thought ...Tedd

 

I don't think that would work since it pretty much has to be serviced from under the hood. I get my rebuilt treadle vac back next week. I dread bleeding the brakes. I hate working on brakes. I will let you guys know how it works. For what I spent, it should be good.

 

I did that on a 53 Chevy we swapped in a v8 and it made for much easier access. I made the hole big enough to remove the whole M/C and fabricated bracket as a unit. Made an 8 inch hinged and glued the carpet to it.